More doubt as Salah skips training again

GROZNY (Russia) • Mohamed Salah on Sunday sat out Egypt's first training session since the team's arrival in Grozny ahead of the World Cup.

Nursing a shoulder injury, he is facing a race against time to be fit to lead the Pharaohs, who play their first Group A game on Friday against Uruguay in Ekaterinburg.

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Former coach writes off Japan's chances

TOKYO • Japan would struggle to avoid an early World Cup exit even under Jose Mourinho, said former coach Philippe Troussier.

The Samurai Blue axed Vahid Halilhodzic in April and replaced him with former Japan Football Association technical director Akira Nishino. Troussier noted that Japan, who face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H, have "no chance" of reaching the knockout stage.

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15k volunteers for World Cup tourists

ST PETERSBURG • Russia has recruited about 15,000 volunteers, to be stationed at airports, train stations and main tourist spots, to help visitors across the 11 Russian cities hosting matches.

According to figures provided by organisers, only one in 10 people who applied was accepted and most were picked for their ability to speak English, to help visitors unfamiliar with both the Russian language and Cyrillic script.

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